Metaverse News - Ukraine Charity Soccer Match Hits the Metaverse Pitch to Raise Funds

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, launched Game4Ukraine, a football charity match that would use the metaverse this weekend to help collect funds for the war-torn country's reconstruction.

On Saturday, August 5, the real-life celebrity exhibition game begins at London's storied Stamford Bridge stadium. Those unable to attend in person may livestream Sky Sports' coverage of the game in an immersive digital watch party created by content provider Global Fan Network and metaverse technology firm Improbable.

Through Improbable, which received $100 million at a $3 billion value last autumn, spectators will be able to talk and ask questions to players being interviewed in the watch party. The forthcoming Bored Ape Yacht Club game Otherside is powered by Improbable's metaverse technology, which also facilitates the usage of NFT-based avatars and objects in virtual environments.

The watch party will have a link to donate to United24, the fundraising website that Zelensky started in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky School in Chernihiv Oblast will be the first school to be rebuilt using funds raised during Game4Ukraine after it was hit by Russian missiles in March 2022. Game4Ukraine has extra fundraising events scheduled around the game with a goal of generating at least £1 million. 

Legendary Ukrainian soccer players Andriy Shevchenko (Blue Team) and Oleksandr Zinchenko (Yellow Team) will lead their teams in the encounter at Stamford Bridge. Many former Chelsea and AC Milan players and coaches will be on Shevchenko's team, whereas Robert Pires and other legendary Arsenal players will be on Zinchenko's team. Other prominent participants in the game include Serginho, Samuel Eto'o, Jermain Defoe, and Gerard Pique.